Katlego Sekhu

PSL outfit Mamelodi Sundowns have been eliminated from the FIFA Club World Cup after a goalless draw against Brazilian giants Fluminense at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, on Wednesday night.
The result saw the South African champions finish third in the group stages, missing out on a place in the tournament’s knockout rounds.
Despite creating several promising opportunities and dominating possession for much of the match, Masandawana were unable to find the back of the net.
The game began with Lucas Ribeiro taking the first real attempt from outside the box, but his shot was comfortably gathered by the Fluminense goalkeeper. The Brazilian side allowed Sundowns space in midfield, which enabled the Pretoria-based outfit to control the tempo and create early chances.
Tashreeq Matthews had a clear opportunity in front of goal, only to see his shot deflected away by the keeper’s chest. Divine Lunga also came close to opening the scoring when a cross from Themba Zwane found him in space on the left, but the Fluminense defence made a crucial clearance.
Sundowns’ high pressing nearly paid off midway through the first half, but Fluminense managed to escape the pressure. At the other end, danger loomed for Bafana Ba Style just after the 20-minute mark, but Khuliso Mudau was alert to head the ball clear and maintain the stalemate.
After the cooling break, Fluminense almost snatched the lead, but their attempt drifted narrowly wide. Despite Sundowns’ dominance in the opening 45 minutes, the teams went into half-time goalless.
The second half saw Sundowns continue their attacking intent, with Lucas Ribeiro delivering a powerful corner early on, but it failed to connect with a teammate. In the 58th minute, Fluminense nearly broke the deadlock, only to be denied by the woodwork. Mosa Lebusa, introduced as a substitute, produced a vital sliding tackle around the 70-minute mark to prevent what looked like a certain goal.
In added time, Sundowns had one last chance to snatch victory, but a strong Fluminense defensive header cleared the danger.
After 90 minutes of hard-fought football, the match ended 0-0, a result that sent Mamelodi Sundowns crashing out of the competition and brought their Club World Cup campaign to a disappointing close.
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